The Volcano Adventure Guide: Excellent information and background for anyone wishing to visit active volcanoes safely and enjoyably. The book presents guidelines to visiting 42 different volcanoes around the world.

Small ash emissions from the volcano have continued yesterday and in the night. Due to the hazard of new ash falls, the airport remains closed today and is scheduled to reopen tomorrow morning at 11:00 am local time. ... [more]

A small eruption occurred at the volcano this morning. An explosion created an ash plume that rose approx. 600 m above the crater. The Babullah airport of Ternate island was closed due to the ash plume and is scheduled to reopen tomorrow morning at 10:00 am. ... [more]

Gamalama (Peak of Ternate) is a near-perfect conical stratovolcano that forms the entire island of Ternate off the western coast of Halmahera. It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes.

Background:

The island of Ternate was a major regional center in the Portuguese and Dutch spice trade for several centuries, which is the main reason the historic activity of Gamalana volcano is so well dosumented. Eruptions, recorded frequently since the 16th century, typically originated from the summit craters, although flank eruptions have occurred in 1763, 1770, 1775, and 1962-63. Some eruptions such as in 1771, 1773, 1775, 1838, 1871, and as lately as in 1962 caused fatalities.

2007-2008 eruptionSeismic activity increased at Gamalama volcano beginning 20 August 2007 and a few days later, there was a small eruption. On 23 August, white and gray plumes rose to an altitude of 2.1 km. Authorities banned access within a 2-km radius of the active crater.
Activity continued into 2008 with weak occasional ash and steam emissions. On 11 May 2008, CVGHM reported that emissions from Gamalama had risen to higher altitudes during the previous two days. On 10 May, white-to-gray plumes rose to an altitude of 1.8 km and drifted N. On 11 May, white plumes increased throughout the day from 1.7 to 2.2 km altitude.
---
Source: GVP monthly reports

2003 eruption: pyroclastic flows and ash fall on TernateOn 31 July, a series of strong explosions occurred, producing ash plumes up to 2 km above the crater. A pyroclastic flow traveled down Togorar valley on the NE flank of Gamalama volcano.
On 1 August, ashfall was 1-3 cm thick in the E part of the island and some of the local population was evacuated. Ternate town ca. 7 km east of Gamalana was covered with thick ash. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
Ash explosions continued until October 2003.

1994 Aug 5 eruption: 3 km high ash plumeAn unusually powerful and sudden eruption occurred on 5 August 1994 at 21h25 local time, producing an ash cloud reaching 3 km above the summit and strong ash fall in nearby areas. An aviation warning was issued for the area.
A felt earthquake a few minutes before the eruption had an intensity of MM II-III. Smaller eruptions happened in the following days and weeks, such as on 14 August when there was ashfall in Ternate. The frequency of eruptions in this period was 5-20 minor explosions/day.
---
Source: GVP monthly reports

1988 eruptionGamalama volcano eruption on 12 February 1988 caused ash fall over Ternate Island and the evacuation of 3000 people.

1983 eruption: 5000 people evacuatedA strong eruption was reported on 9 August at 04h45 local time. A thick black eruption column containing incandescent material rose 1.5 km and caused a pyroclastic flow traveling down the N flank, destroying homes and plantations.
Ash fell W of the volcano, closing the local airport of Ternate. Explosions on 10 August produced 1.5-km ash columns.
More than 5,000 persons living near the volcano were evacuated. No casualties were reported.
---
Source: GVP monthly reports

1980 eruption: 40,000 people evacuatedGamalama Volcano started erupting on 4 September 1980 ejecting incandescent tephra and glowing bombs to up to 1 km distance. A new crater was formed on the ENE side of the summit.
On 5 Sep eruptions caused forest fires and ash fall over large parts of the island. At Ternate City 7 km E of the crater ash fall reached 10 cm. About 40,000 people evacuated to Tidore Island. A new crater formed ENE of the summit. Eruptions continued until the end of September 1980. ...more

Copyrights:VolcanoDiscovery and other sources as noted.Use of material: Text and images on this webpage are copyrighted. Further reproduction and use without authorization is not consented. If you need licensing rights for photographs, for example for publications and commercial use, please contact us.